McNulty a political, personal friend to many

By CAROL DEMARE Staff writer

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, January 6, 2010

A tanned and fit Howard Nolan -- the one-time state senator and Democratic powerbroker who now spends most of his time in Florida -- was among hundreds of mourners at last weekend's funeral for Jack McNulty.

McNulty, 87, the Democratic Party's elder statesman, was a special person in the younger life of the 77-year-old Nolan, an attorney, who recalled those early days as he stood in the back of St. Joseph's Church in Green Island, where the service was held.

In 1973, McNulty had stood up to party stalwarts Dan O'Connell and Erastus Corning 2nd fearlessly launching the first primary for sheriff in the powerful party's history, defeating party candidate Albany County Undersheriff Bill Mahoney for the Democratic nomination for sheriff. McNulty went on to win the general election and avenged his father's beef with O'Connell.

The senior McNulty, known as "Big Jack" was sheriff during the Depression and was humiliated by O'Connell when the party boss wouldn't let him run for another term. It's believed O'Connell feared that Big Jack could attempt to take over the party.

"I was an admirer of him from afar," Nolan said. An Albany attorney, Nolan had decided to enter politics and had received the Democratic nomination for state Senate. A day later he called McNulty, and the two sat down for 90 minutes. That was the start of a great friendship, politically and otherwise.

After that, "he spent many, many, many days walking the 42nd Senate District with me," Nolan said. "He was the sheriff," although Nolan remembers that most of the time he didn't wear his uniform. The Times Union archives produced a 1976 photo of McNulty and Nolan together and, in that picture, McNulty is in uniform. It could have been taken during Nolan's and McNulty's re-election bids. The sheriff's term was three years; the state Senate, two years.

Nolan respected McNulty's integrity and dedication to public life. "There was no finer a public servant ... so honest," he said. "And, nobody could have been more helpful to me than Jack McNulty." Despite McNulty's employment as a funeral director, his love of politics took center stage in a 60-year career.

During the turbulent '70s, party members' loyalties were divided between the O'Connell/Corning faction and the McNulty/Nolan faction.

The 1973 primary was contentious. But, in reality, it was a race between two gentlemen. When it was over, McNulty hired his opponent, Mahoney, so he could continue as undersheriff. Mahoney retired from the sheriff's office in that position.

"They became great friends," said Sean Ward, county legislator and deputy majority leader who is executive assistant to Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty-Ryan, daughter of Jack McNulty.

The friendship endured until Mahoney's death in 2005. Mahoney and his wife, Betty, would travel from their Altamont home to Green Island's annual fundraisers -- the $35 spring and fall buffets, Ward said.

McNulty served in another criminal justice capacity -- as a member of the state Commission of Correction, which oversees the state's prisons and jails. He was appointed by Gov. Mario Cuomo and served from 1985 to 1990.

Right to the end, he enjoyed a good hamburger and from his hospital bed had one brought to him from Jack's in Wynantskill.

Conference

The 7th Battered Mothers Custody Conference, an annual weekend-long event, is set for Friday through Sunday at the Holiday Inn Turf on Wolf Road in Colonie. The theme of the conference is "Now that We Know, What Are We Doing About It?"

The focus of the seminar is to discuss and provide education and support for mothers and children who have been involved in what conference leaders contend are improper family court rulings.

In hand with the conference, the New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women will hold a news conference at noon on Friday at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. The conference will discuss cases in which NOW leaders say judges have ordered "children to live with abusers and punish, silence, or jail the protective parent who tries to keep the children from harm."

Sexism

The New York State Chapter of the National Organization for Women and Albany Area NOW are sponsoring speaker Barbara J. Berg, author of "Sexism in America: Alive, Well and Ruining our Future" at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Professor Java's on Wolf Road in Colonie.

A book signing will follow the presentation. RSVP by Jan. 15 to 472-9120 or 452-3944.

Carol DeMare can be reached at 454-5431 or by e-mail at cdemare@timesunion.com.